I have a friend that goes on and on about steel cut oats. I think he is one of the people I know personally that just gets how into oats I am. He informed us the other day that Bob's Red Mill came out with Gluten Free Steel Cut Oats. I have to be honest, I have never really cared to try them before. Sure, I was curious, but I like my regular or quick cooking oats...I know (gasp)! When we saw this new product at our local health food store. We figured, why not? I ran out of my oats this morning, so I decided this was the perfect time to give the steel cut oats a try.

I could go on and on about the benefits of oats. I am a huge advocate of starting your day off on the right food and oatmeal in any fashion is a great start to your day. I have actually gotten the illustrator hooked on them. Oats are really easy to prepare no matter what cut you choose. I think the biggest reason I stayed away from the steel cut oats for so long is because I thought they would be hard to cook. They aren't! I cooked these on the stove without even paying that much attention. I did keep an eye on them, but really you don't need to babysit them. I love that there are so many options for oats in the way of texture. You have oat bran, steel cut oats, rolled oats, quick oats, instant oats, oat groats...I am sure there are more. I have now tried all of these in different ways. Oats are extremely versatile too!

I love baking cookies with them. These are the illustrator's absolute favorite!

I have even used the groats for oatgurt! This was an amazing treat! It looks sinful, but it is so good for you!

This morning though, it was apple pie oats for me! I love putting fresh diced sweet apples (Fuji) on top of my oats. The mix of warm, soft and creamy goes so well with the fresh, sweet, crispness of the apples. I also opted for cinnamon to give this a real apple pie flavor. So...what did I think, well...I loved it! Really, it was so good. The oats are definitely chewy. They remind me of brown rice, but with my favorite oatmeal flavor! I cooked it as directed and then added some unsweetened applesauce and cinnamon. On the top went a few drops of vanilla NuNaturals stevia, diced apples and almond milk. I will definitely be making this again soon! I love Bob's Red Mill gluten free products. Everything I have tried so far has been reliable and delicious!

Ok, now I have to know...do you like oats, what type is your favorite and how do you cook them?

I prefer the steel cut oats b/c of the chewy texture as opposed to rolled oats. I was always afraid to mess with cooking them too. I thought they would be sooo much trouble I found a recipe that I use to make overnight steel cut oats that I reheat the next morning at work too. On the weekends, I just do the regular method. Love topping with peanut butter, sugar-free jam, and bananas.

I have an on-again, off-again relationship with oats, and my favorite is Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Rolled Oats. They take a little longer to cook, but it's worth the wait! I usually add a little raw honey and flax meal, and I went through a phase where I was mixing in hemp butter, too... Delicious!

Bob's products are the best! i know exactly what u mean about baking.. oat flakes..or quick oats are great for muffins and cookies..or loaves too.. and oat bran is amazing for pancakes or waffles!!! fabulous <3

what a great blog, I will definetely follow you! such an interesting design!! :) the cookies and banana split oatmeal looks so heavenly delicious!!! I will have to note to myself that I have to recreate these!! :)

As always - everything looks so delicious! I've yet to try oat groats - but went through a major steel cut obsession :) A super easy way to prepare them is to bring them to a boil with the water the night before, and then shut off and cover for the night. The next morning you just need to re-heat them - really not much longer than preparing normal oats.

And I don't think I can play favorites when it comes to oats - they're all welcome in my home :P

I do overnight oats mixed with banana and protein powder (chocolate) have psted about them a ton, call them overnight chocolate brownie protein oats. REally good. Otherwise i used oats IN things, grind them as flour or as a bulk grain in my homemade granola bars, that type of thing.

As for your blog changing, heck yea! you guys have so many food intols that of COURSE your blog had to change..otherwise you'd be shredding your guts if you kept eating (and blogging) the same old way :)xo

For hot cereal, I favor Bob's Red Mill Organic Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats + Arrowhead Mills Organic Rice & Shine (gluten-free), but have always been a bit confused over the debate about whether or not oats actually contain gluten. Seems to be a tricky topic. Haven't had steel cut oats in a long time; strangely, don't believe I've ever seen an organic version. Wonder if steel cut is the kind they serve at diners/hotel continental breakfasts that make it so dense/lumpy and satisfying (or is that just the unfortunately likely hidden added milk...)?

Mmm, I just love oats! I haven't ever tried steel cut, but now you've convinced me to give them a shot! I love a chewy texture. I tend to stick with old fashioned rolled oats. I used to have a strong love affair going with oatbran too. All are delicious!

I want to bake up a batch of those cookies too! I bet they're the perfect sweet treat!